Beginning May 7, individuals boarding an airplane for a domestic flight will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card. If a traveler’s identification is not Real ID-compliant, the passenger will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport, to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The Real ID requirement is mandated under the Real ID Act (2005), which became law after 9/11 as a reform to establish minimum, nationwide security standards for identification used for such activities.
“Real ID goes into effect starting May 7, and the countdown is on,” says Gerardo Spero, the Transportation Security Administration’s federal security director for Pennsylvania, in a prepared statement. “Real ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver’s licenses and identification cards. The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.
“Getting your Real ID before the deadline is more than just a suggestion—it’s a game changer for your travel plans,” he adds. “By securing your Real ID before May 7, you’ll breeze through security like a pro, avoid delays, and start your trip right.”
The wait time to get a Real ID varies by state. If travelers are unable to obtain a Real ID by May 7 and need to travel before they receive one, they must have another form of approved identification. Travelers cannot pass through airport security nationwide with a standard driver’s license or identification on May 7 or after. Transportation Security Administration officers nationwide who staff the ticket document-checking podium at airports will be checking for a compliant license or another form of acceptable ID on and after that date.
